Publication Date: January 23, 2024
Based on true World War II stories of life in the USO variety shows, worlds collide when performers from around the United States come together to tour North Africa.
Vibrant and scrappy Maggie McCleod tried not to get fired from her wartime orchestra, but her sharp tongue landed her in trouble, so an overseas adventure with the USO’s camp show promises a chance at a fresh start. Wealthy and elegant Catherine Duquette signs with the USO to leave behind her restrictive life of privilege and to uncover the truth behind the disappearance of the handsome pilot whose letters mysteriously stopped arriving.
The two women are joined by an eclectic group of performers–a scheming blues singer, a veteran tap dancer, and a brooding magician–but the harmony among their troupe is short-lived when their tour manager announces he will soon recommend one of them for a coveted job in the Hollywood spotlight. Each of the five members has a reason to want the contract, and they’ll do whatever is necessary to claim it. As their troupe travels closer to the dangerous battlefront in Tunisia, personal crises and wartime dangers only intensify, putting not only their careers but also their lives on the line.
With American soldiers heading overseas to serve Uncle Sam, a unique opportunity emerged for USO variety shows.
Author Amy Lynn Green transports readers back in time through the eyes of two performers from diverse backgrounds. The end result, The Foxhole Victory Tour, is a resounding success, rich with historical detail.
Maggie McCloud’s sassy mouth has left her unemployed and earns her a stand-up comedy spot on the tour. Her determination to be successful is demonstrated throughout the story, especially in contrast to her strict religious upbringing.
Her fellow performer, Catherine, seeks adventure instead of the orchestrated life her parents are each proposing. She hopes the tour will help her discover why her pilot crush stopped writing.
The two young women soon learn that life performing in North Africa holds many challenges. A chance at a Hollywood spot is the prize, but they will have to survive the war to claim it. Both characters undergo amazing transformations by the end of the book.
The Foxhole Victory Tour delves into the entertainment component of the war effort with a solid cast of characters.
Amy Lynn Green is a lifelong lover of books, history, and library cards. She worked in publishing for six years before writing her first historical fiction novel. She and her husband live in Minnesota, where she teaches virtual classes on marketing at writer’s conferences, engages with book clubs, and regularly encourages established and aspiring authors in their publication journeys.
